Jail for taking 44 cars

Press, 9 May 1980, Page 5

Jail for taking 44 cars

A storeman convicted of converting 44 cars, worth almost $150,000, was sent to prison for 15 months by Judge Bradford in the District Court yesterday. Having regard to the ' enormity of the offending, prison was the only sentence, he told Gavin Franklin Stuckey, aged 20. The judge said the scale of the offending justified a prison term of two years,. He said he would reduce this term because the defendant had made a clean breast of his offending; because the defendant was a first offender who had just turned 20; and consideration of the effect on the defendant of a long period in prison. Last week Stuckey plead- ' ed guilty to 44 charges of ' conversion and seven of theft. The police prosecutor ■ had said that all the vehicles ; were taken between April 20, 1979, and April 14 this year.

■ Many of the converted cars had been damaged and ' compensation of $13,000 was " sought to cover this damage 1 and the cost of property taken from the cars. ' Counsel (Mr C. D. Eason) said until April last year, when Stuckey came to Christchurch, he had adhered to a rather strict code

of behaviour. Before his offences Stuckey had his $l4OO motorcycle stolen and was left to pay it off under a hire-pur-chase agreement. The bike ; was never recovered. Shortly afterwards a flat-

mate left taking with him ’ all the furniture, and household items. All that was left behind was a bed. some clothes and the defendant’s television set. It was two weeks after- • wards that Stuckey began his offending.

Some of the cars were taken by Stuckey and some

with others. Were it not for Stuckey’s candour with the police the number of charges he faced would be reduced

considrably, said Mr Eason. He said it was an attempt by Stuckey to make a clean breast of what was almost a year’s criminal behaviour. Although a custodial sentence was inevitable Mr Eason urged that it be kept to a minimum.

On a charge of wilfully destroyed a telephone kiosk, valued at $773, the defendant was remanded to June ' 19 for a defended hearing.

i DRUG CHARGES t Aaron Bernard Francis, aged 20, unemployed, was remanded in custody to May 15. He faces six charges laid under the Misuse of Drugs Act. It is alleged that Francis sold cannabis plant and codiene to an undercover policeman and that he supplied the policeman with pethedine, dextromoramide, am cannabis resin. The alleged offences are said to have taken place between August and October last year. The defendant did not plead to any of the charges. BURGLARY CHARGE Bernard Hill, aged 20, a sickness beneficiary, was remanded in custody to May 12 on a charge of burglary. No plea was entered. When he first appeared in Court on the charge last week he was remanded in custody until yesterday for a psychiatric report. Hill was charged with breaking and entering the changing sheds of the Addington Rugby League Club ir Jerrold Street Park on April 30. Sharon Elizabeth Hawke, aged 18, a kitchen hand, who was jointly charged with Hill on the burglary charge, admitted the offence. Sergeant Jones said at 7 p.m. on April 30 the defendant and an associate had gone to the changing sheds while a rugby team was practicing. While Hawke acted as a look-out the associate entere*. the sheds and took three wallets from clothing inside. When some of the team noticed them the associate dropped the wallets near a tree and ran off through adjoining properties. Hawke ran down Brougham Street but was caught by one of the team. The associate was caught soon after, said Sergeant Jones.

Counsel (Mr C. D. Eason) said Hawke’s role had been of a minor nature. At the time of the offence the defendant was facing a number of family and financial difficulties.

Judge Bradford said the defendant had been prepared to assist in a particularly sneaky theft. Hawke was given a 12months deferred sentence. ARSON CHARGE

A 52-year-old sickness jbeneficiary facing a charge of arson was remanded in

custody to May 15 without plea. 1 He is Ruku Paumga Potae who is alleged to have wilfully set fire to a house in Ferry Road on Wednesday. Bail was opposed by Sergeant G. C. Jones. Potae is also charged with the possession'of an offensive weapon — a boning knife — in Ferry Road the same day. He did not plead to the charge. RECEIVED CIGARETTES Dale Kenneth Jackson, aged 22, a toolmaker, who admitted receiving six cartons of cigarettes, valued at $1339, was convicted and remanded on bail to May 22 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant G. C. Jones said about 11 p.m. on March 10 a large quantity of cigarettes were stolen from a railway waggon. Two men were arrested at the scene. Police found that six cartons of cigarettes had been taken to an -ddress in St Albans. A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s address where the six cartons were recovered. Sergeant Jones said some of the cigarettes were duty-free. At first Jackson denied knowing the contents of the cartons and said he had only allowed the use of a shed for storage of them.

Although interim suppression was allowed when the defendant first appeared the judge lifted it yesterday. 29 OFFENCES An IS-year-old spot-welder convicted of 28 charges of burglary and one charge of attempted burglary had told the police that he needed money and it was an easy way to get it, said Sergeant Jones. Paul Manu Temu, who admitted all tin: charges, was lemanded in custody to May 22 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Jones said in October, 1979, the defendant, and a co-offender already dealt with, lived in Wellington. They decided to break into commercial premises to get money to pay off debts and buy household items. Cash from the burglaries, all committed in Wellington between November, 1978, and January this year, totalled $4378, and goods valued at $3621 were stolen. The damage to property amounted to $1765, said Sergeant Jones.

Some property had been recovered but the value of that still outstanding was $5711. Compensation of $5051 was sought from the defendant who is held at the Rolleston Detention Centre, said Sergeant Jones.